The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-07-13
BLANKET FISH.
A MONSTER WHICH INFESIS
CALIFORNIA; COASTS.
A Great Fish That Tows vessels
The Experience of Paclnc
Pearl Diver-ShockinS
Unwary Celestials.

"Do YOU see that short, thick-set man
sitting on the boat?" asked lounger at
San Pedro, Cal. to q New York COM
merc;al Advertiscr correspondent. "Well,
he's an ex-pearl diver, ex-smuggler, eN-
everything, and can tell some strange
stories of this part of the world.
A little later was introduced to inc
diver, who was half breed Mexican. lie
LAUGHED when his experiences were re-
ferred to, and replied: "Ihey were were
nothing. have left the business, ana
have done with it for good or bad. IT a
dogs life, this diving, and L would not
90 back to it for anything you could otier
Why? Well, I am tired of it, and was
covered with a blanket fish on my last
trim down, and the second time means
death. Am sure?" and the half-breed
smiled. s'Well, 1 never knew 1t to fali;
There merc Ramolcs, Maria, Na!ona, all
from my family, killed by the oianket-
fish, and every one had his warning; IL
is not necessary to believe it. l do, how,
ever. 1T is not thing that man would
be likely to forget" . a.
ssI have seen a good many OF tnein IN
nv time, but was never cornered except
once, and that was wear ago. was one
of the party that went to the pearl
grounds in the Ccntipcde, the boat that
was never heard from after her next
cruise 1t came my turn to 60 down and
over went; but as soon as got down
felt that something was wrong, that
something was going to happen rs soon
as struck the bottom l landed among
a fine lot of pearl shells, and had hc-al
to fillmy basket, when all at once notlccd
a darkening about Inc and looked UP i
saw what appeared to be a blanket owIy
.ettIinp down over me knew | had 4
chance, so / c.Jwded down close L. tie
bottom, hoping the fish woulln'5 see me-
and by lack it didn't Just rs II Was ten
or twelve feet off something alarmed IT.
and it darted away. WIS hauled up
more dead than alive. Judged that the
fish was at least thirty feet across, and II
it had settled on me nothing could have
saved me-" .,
"The divers" said an American later
nm. t.have an idea that these fish settle
down on you, as they have very broad
surface and peculiar undulating motion
in the water, using the side fins like
wings. They are almost as powerful as a
LARGE whale, and one twenty five feet
across could undoubtedly move off with
a large ship. In almost every locality
where they are found stories are told OF
their carving off vessels. Several IN
stances of this have happened in the
Gulf of Mexico, where devil fish, as they
are called there, have run off with
smacks and small fishing vessels during
the night. In one instance skipper
turned in at night in a harbor and
awoke in the morning to find himself out
of sight of land, big devil fish had run
foul of the anchor and gone out OF the
chan1el so silently that none OF the crew
noticed it."
Tampa bay, Florida, isl famous place
for these monsters of the deep, and often
schools of dozen or more are seen
swimming about in circles. These rays
are among the largest fishes known. Two
immense fms extend out from each side,
while from the tail projects long lash
like whip, capable of doing severe exc
cution. The writer was once pollng a
boat over the Florida reefs in the vicinity
of Kew West, when comrade, who had
been sitting astride the cut-water dang.
ling his feet in the water, threw himself
back into the boat with yell of pain,
while huge black ray darting OF over
the white sand told the story. Both OF
his feet were cut almost to the bone. The
weapon that produced the injury was
delicate whip-like lash, smaller than a
mans little finger.
On still nights, in sub-tropical regions,
the rays are often chased by sharks, and
leap from the water in their attempts to
escape, falling with a tremendous crash.
The man-eating sharks, with their thick
skins, arc safe from their attacks, and
often bite out great pieces from the side
fins of the monsters.
At San Pedro and the various watering
places from San Diego north, the ray fam
ilymakes itself disagreeably conspicuous.
The smaller ones have habit of hiding
in the sand, and presenting their spines
for bathcrs' feet, while others are pro-
vided with electric batteries, which not
rarely give the fishermen powerful
shocks. l have known man to be dis
abled for several days for harpooning
3 one.
The Chinese monopolize the fishing in
these waters, and are often victims of the
practical Jokes of the Mexican and Amer
lean fishermen. An bodied torpedo
will be brought ashore at San Pedro or
Monterey and the whites will wager a
green Chinaman that he cannot lift it.
The fish appears to weigh about six or
eight pounds, and John" after putting
up his money, with laugh at the sim
plicity of the american devils" takes
hold with both hands aud is stiffened out
so quickly that often he can do nothing
but hold the fish and roar with anguish
until he is released. The shock given by
these fishes has been compared to that Of
a single Leydcn jar, and can be plainly
felt by fifty persons in circle.